The EyjafjallajÃ¶kull volcano in southern Iceland (which had last erupted in the 1820s) experienced a minor eruption on 21 March 2010. An AVHRR 3.7 Âµm shortwave IR image from the polar-orbiting NOAA-19 satellite (above) showed evidence of a “hot spot” (black to yellow pixels) due to the resulting lava flows.

According to the London VAAC, the volcanic eruption did not produce significant volcanic ash above the 5000 foot level:

The minor volcanic eruptions continued for several days; meteorological clouds often obscured Iceland during that time, but on 24 March an overpass of NASA’s Aqua satellite allowed another view of the lava flow “hot spot” (red pixels) on a 1-km resolution MODIS 3.7 Âµm shortwave IR image (above). The maximum IR brightness temperatures within the red pixel area were 330 K. Additional photos and video have been posted by the Icelandic Met Office.